Why touch soothes newborns

PROPRIOCEPTION: RELEASES SEROTONIN WHICH PROVIDES SENSE OF CALMNESS, WELLBEING

- Jen Spiro

What can be more relaxing than a body massage, a heavy workout at the gym, sitting in a hot tub or falling asleep in a moving car (as the passenger of course)?

All these experiences result from stimuli to our senses of touch and of body position.

This is referred to as proprioception. When we receive proprioception input, feel good chemical serotonin is released in the body which provides a sense of calmness and wellbeing.

Proprioception is information received from our muscles and joints which tells us more about our position and movement in space.

This sensory system is stimulated by deep pressure touch, movement against resistance and vibration.

These stimuli are naturally experienced by the foetus in utero where their environment offers warmth, constant deep pressure and resistance due to the elasticity and confines of the womb.

Since the proprioceptive and touch systems are the first senses to develop after conception, they are quite advanced at birth. Hence, input to these systems can play a vital role in stress release and promoting good sleeping habits.

The following are a few ideas to use proprioception to calm your newborn: